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January monthly focus: The introduction of functional skills and how they impact on our apprenticeship programmes

The vocational skills centre is putting new processes in place to improve the way that we recruit candidates for our apprenticeship programmes within UHS, and to introduce the new national functional skills (English, maths and IT within these apprenticeships).

In future, if a member of staff is interested in studying an apprenticeship programme they will need to undertake an initial assessment in English and maths before they apply for the course. Staff will be exempt if they have completed GCSE English and maths or equivalent in the past five years.

These initial assessments will be run on a monthly basis (see dates below). If the required level is not met, we will provide advice to each candidate on training courses and study before starting an apprenticeship programme. This advice may include taking one or more of the functional skills training courses on offer.

We are in the process of organising a rolling programme for maths and English functional skills courses. These will run on a seven week programme, one morning or one afternoon per week. We are planning for the initial assessment to be completed approximately seven weeks before a functional skills course starts (for example completed 23 January, with an English course commencing 19 March). These courses will be delivered by Eastleigh College on site at UHS.

This process will help to ensure that staff are only selected for apprenticeship programmes within their capability, and if appropriate are signposted to alternative study to prepare for an apprenticeship.